BrewDog Paradox Smokehead (Batch 015) - Smokehead - BrewDog

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

3.91/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 2.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 4.25

11.2oz bottle. Pricey. Hoping it was worth the loot.

Batch #015. Best Before 08/08/1?. The '?' is either a '0' or a '6'.

Believe it or not, pours translucent dark brown with redder hues when held to the light. She looks almost black against an opaque surface, be sure of that. Carbonation is nearly gone. Elevated the pour to trap some gas. Letting it warm up for quite awhile. I still have bubbles clinging along the outside wall of the glass.

Intensely peaty whiskey cask note with that beefy Islay smoke. A skin of wood from the barrel, but mostly just a full-blown Scotch nose. Blends in with the malts, completely disguising any alcoholic strength. Roasty-sweet malts have thinned out, opening the door for the full effect of a smoky Scotch to take its grip on the nose. I can't exactly tell, but I don't think smoked malts were used; which is proving to be a very wise decision after determining what the barrels could do. There are hidden treats in the aroma in the forms of maple, rum raisin, cherry, and molasses. A Scotch-driven aroma, but I have no complaints in that department.

Ah, but the malts have thinned out a bit too much in the taste! This one still shows potential (or I missed out on its potential)--I can't tell. Direct Islay whiskey note from the cask-aging. Smoky peat is big, some dried-out brown sugar flavor, oak, cherry, raisin, and crème brûlée. The smoke could be accentuated more, as it was in the nose. What a savory beer! Not as tasty as I could have dreamt, but probably because it wasn't meant to keep this long.

The feel suffered the most. Thinner body, hardly any carbonation, a flat mouthfeel with strange lot of leftover dextrins. Lots of points lost here.

Despite the look and feel of this beer being quite sub-standard for the style and its reputation, this is an amazingly ambitious stout with excellent whiskey barrel character, authentic smokiness in the nose, and light fruit notes that probably came with age. It's going to take some serious self-control to not pony up the cash and grab one or two more bottles (even though I already know how South they might go). I can drink them in the nearest future, right?

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2013 04:08:05 | More by thecheapies

TrappistJohnMD

Mississippi

2.61/5  rDev -29.8%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75

Batch 015 Bottled on 04/15/09

Pours black with almost no head. Just a ring around edges of glass. This ring dissappears within about 90 seconds.

Smell is heavy with smoke, peat and formaldehyde. Frankly this smells like Gross anatomy lab and sterile gauze. Not pleasant.

Taste is smoke, rancid peat and formaldehyde. I couldn't bring myself to shit on it in my numerical review because I probably just don't understand its character, but I can't finish it.

Mouthfeel is watery and without carbonation.

Overall this was terrible. Maybe my palate just hasn't matured enough for something like this.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2013 00:16:35 | More by TrappistJohnMD

templar316

Pennsylvania

3.2/5  rDev -14%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

Pours thick and black with very little head, although it's still working on the sides. Hickory smoke and peat malt lazily dominate the aroma. There's alot of hint's to start bittery dryness, big malts then the smoke hits and all else disappears. The flavor is the same smooth easy malt then POW! Forest fire! Smoke in your clothes and you can never shake it. This is a beer crushed under the weight of it's ambition.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2013 03:22:11 | More by templar316

AdamBear

Pennsylvania

3.43/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

On tap at Two Stone Pub in Newark, DE.

A-dark brown with a thin sticky tan head

S-very smokey. Smokey like charcoal smoke though, not bonfire. That's all I get. Strong scent

T-comes in with a warm taste of alcohol and burnt charcoal. All other flavors are more or less muted. Has a long lasting flavor. Very simple taste. Not exactly friendly.

M-low carbonation with an almost watery finish

O-out of the many smokey beers I've had, this is one of the most pointless. It's not even the right kind of smoke flavor. Tastes like an artificial fire rather than a natural one. On the other hand, it does remind me of a fine whiskey. I do like that aspect. Eh, not really worth a try I'd say.

Serving type: on-tap

11-19-2012 22:20:56 | More by AdamBear

LiquidAmber

Washington

3.88/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Poured into a Maudite snifter. Pours pitch black with only a hint of a head, ending with a thin ring around the glass and occasional bubbles surfacing. Aroma is dominated by Scotch; whiskey and peat, smokey, with a hint of dark roasted malt in the background. Flavor follows with immediate Scotch whisky and smoke supported by sweet toasted malt. Finishes as a smoked beer should with a campfire smokiness, with wet wood and oak. The high ABV is well covered by the flavor. Medium bodied, a little light for an Imperial stout and the lack of carbonation detracts from the overall mouth feel. Still, the flavors are great for a smoked stout and this was an enjoyable beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2012 03:12:05 | More by LiquidAmber

jrenihan

Ontario (Canada)

3.48/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

BB appears to be 09/08/10.. or is that a 16? 10 seems early.

Beer is black. A vigorous pour results in a smallish, frothy tan head. Fades quickly to some bubbles.

Smoky, peaty. Smells like diluted Islay whisky.

Taste is quite smoky, along with a fair bit of oak. Some peat. The base beer doesn't seem to come through a lot. The standard stout flavours are muted. Some anise, caramel and a bit of chocolate. Smoke really takes over.

Body is very disappointing. Bizarrely thin, moderate carbonation. Does not work at all.

Overall, not impressed. Pretty weak stuff- and this comes from somebody who really likes Islay malts.

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2012 03:18:44 | More by jrenihan

Maxwell

Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I am very excited to try this glass after my sublime tasting of Paradox Isle of Arran, which is essentially the same beer, just aged in smokey casks instead of barrels. The beer pours like the darkest night with a light, tan, half a fingers width head that bursts away swiftly to leave a sloppy ring round the glass reminiscent of curdled milk. This beer is all kinds of black and opaque though, much like the Isle of Arran, it looks lovely for a cask aged beer, with little to no carbonation present. The beer is also quite pungent, sending out wafts even as it sits across the table from me in a traditional pint glass (Batman style). The smell is thick and syrupy with chocolate like Isle of Arran’s, giving the nose a sticky sense but there is also a tremendous roasted wood smell and a very pungent heavy alcohol odor present that work their way into the smell as the glass levels out after agitation. This is nothing like a normal smoked ale smell by my account, instead reminding me more of flavored wood burning, or a smoker as salmon is being laid out on it, I am really intrigued by this smell. The beer’s taste follows suit with smoke overpowering the drink with a great heavy char flavor that is very much reminding me of burning hickory woodchips. This beer is very much a smoked salmon beer to me, with the hickory woodchip flavor lending to a saltier feel in the middle of the beer, and a ghost of that salt lingering in the aftertaste which are reminiscent of a salmon's brine. There is a slight sweet chocolate malt taste in the initial sip of this beer and some slight cloying alcohol bite, but these are swiftly eaten up by the wonderful smoked hickory wood flavor. This is definitely a sipping beer, meant for a lovely snifter and a light sipping evening more so than pub knock-backer and a get-fucked-up-night, though the beers 10% could definitely help you reach that state. Mouthfeel is again oozing, thick, and syrupy but the after taste is slick with saliva and tingling like you’ve just breathed in a campfire. The aftertaste is really heavy with the hickory campfire taste which is cool at first, but takes its time in leaving and gets a little heavy on the tongue. Overall, this is a very interesting experience as far as smoked beers go. I think this beer would pare really well with a Gouda cheese and some supple fish meat. This isn’t as good as the Isle of Arran variant of Paradox, but it is still a very intriguing beer that is especially worth a sip for smoked beer lovers and is also worth one for just beer lovers, especially since it is a retired beer. The crazy Scots have done it again! I’m happy to have tried it, but I don’t know if I will be going back for more.

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2012 21:52:24 | More by Maxwell

MeneerBeerSnob

District of Columbia

3.73/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

At Churchkey DC a cask poured into a snifter

A-Pours deep black with a thin finger of mocha colored head.

S-Scotch dominates the smell with hints of smoke and caramel.

T-Smooth and smoky scotch taste with notes of bitter coffee, caramel and malt.

M-Very little carbonation allows the smoky scotch envelop your taste buds.

O-Good stout, could be slightly more carbonated but the scotch flavor really brings it.

Serving type: on-tap

05-12-2012 22:50:01 | More by MeneerBeerSnob

bvdubn

Pennsylvania

3.63/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I poured the beer vigorously from 12oz bottle into my Dogfish Head snifter. The beer is very black with a mocha colored head. I got about a quarter inch of head that that quickly dissipated into a thin layer on top with some lacing around the edges.
I smell lots of Whiskey initially but the smell changes to Robitussin as it warms.
My first sip was on the cooler side and was filled with Whiskey which was then immediately followed by wood. It is like chewing a charred wood. As it warmed I could no longer taste the whiskey and the smoke also started to subdue. I am getting roasted coffee bitterness and hints of toffee and caramel the longer the beer sits. It is now completely room temperature and this is where it tastes best. The bottle specifically says to serve at room temperature but I decided to chill to about 45 and then sample as it warmed.
The beer is a little thin with low carbonation which is just how I like my big stouts.
Batch 015 – Bottled 8/15/09
I couldn’t pass it up when I found it in a bottle shop and saw the bottled on date. It was good but certainly not the best stout I have ever had.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2012 02:43:18 | More by bvdubn

Scotchboy

Idaho

3.7/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

11.2 bottle I've been waiting to crack since Christmas 2010. Bottle is dated 2009, split into pint glasses.

A: Not as dark as I had thought it would be, lots of transparent red visible.

S: Smoke, peat, oak, iodine, seaweed, salty seawater. Malt is buried for sure.

T: Very Islay-forward...saltwater and peat are dominant, hints of smoke, the whisky barrel characters are overwhelming the base stout at this point...there is still alcohol here too.

MF: Medium feel, thin, a bit of alcohol burn, fairly spot on carbonation, bubbles are visible but its a creamy lower carbonation mouthfeel.

O: Probably a must have for an Islay Scotch lover. Its a touch aggressive on the Scotch, and I say that delicately as a Scotch lover, though I prefer the Highlands and Speyside to Islay offerings.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2012 19:09:16 | More by Scotchboy

cavedave

New York

2.98/5  rDev -19.9%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

I'm assuming this is the correct page, Speyside wasn't denoted on chalkboard, this page reads retired, YMMV. From notes:

I am abandoning my usual l-s-t-m-o for this unique bird.

My motto for Brewdog: *Go much too far. Then go further*

The black intensity of this almost-still (forgiveable here as it is cask) snifter of wizard waste is its finest feature.

This beer is an upclose and personal tour for tongue and nose of the inner, most charred surfaces of a whiskey barrel is near as I can go to describe. Other elements are present in this over the top escapade, but it is the raw char which overpowers all. "The harsh heat of alcohol floating afire atop burning oak on my tongue," is what I have written in my short notes, but the memory this brings fleshes much too well.

If you have ever enjoyed licking the newly extinguished embers of a wood fire, this beer is for you. Also recommended for those seeking the ultimate excess in sharp flavor intensity. All others need not apply.

Serving type: cask

03-10-2012 22:09:34 | More by cavedave

BelgianBeerHog26

Connecticut

4.53/5  rDev +21.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Dark chocolate coloring

S - Oak, Peat, smokey, Carmel, chocolate in that order.

T - peat, and smoke dominates the front end taste with a smooth Carmel chocolate flavor following though at the very end.

M - very viscsous and full.

O - a fantastic beer, one of the best I have ever had. In the same category as rochefort 10.

Serving type: on-tap

02-11-2012 02:49:46 | More by BelgianBeerHog26

Durge

Connecticut

4.33/5  rDev +16.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Well, you can say it's retired but it was on tap at The Cask Republic in New haven, CT last Friday though I suppose it was a different batch...whatever. It's a very dark mahogany black color with a chocolate colored head that spreads fairly thin and leaves fair lacing. The aroma is just mild whiskey, not sure I can identify much else. It’s good scotch whiskey in my estimation but hard to find the beer here...not complaining though. The taste astounds with creamy molasses malt blended nicely with the smoked peat and whiskey burn. And then there seems to be a bit of dry hoppiness that comingles with the scotch bite. Body is medium and the feel brings an odd hint of creaminess with an ultimately aqueous drinkability. Wild and tasty stuff.

Serving type: on-tap

02-08-2012 07:31:09 | More by Durge

SLeffler27

New York

3.58/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours black walnut with a short lived dense latte head that reaches one quarter inch. A viscous film and thin rings of lace form on the glass.

There is a distinct impression of cherry cough syrup, quickly followed by band-aids. While there is some smoke, I find none of the expected whisky. There is a clear scent of cigar left on my breath. This one is intriguing to say the least.

Pronounced flavors of charred wood upon opening are followed by whisky and baker’s chocolate. Roasted coffee bitterness carries long into a dry finish. There are odd flavors which I am attributing to the stated peat smoke.

A full body with smooth texture, light astringency, and prickly carbonation. Alcohol is prominent as expected.

Smokehead is probably served best with bold savory foods. It lacks the wow factor one would expect from the brand hype and price tag. While I’m glad to have tried it, but it is falling short for me.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2012 22:27:53 | More by SLeffler27

Mar02x

Netherlands

2.35/5  rDev -36.8%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

A - A strong beige head on a pitch black beer.

S - Smoked oak and a slight whiskey scent - I don't like smoked malts.

T - It is hard to discover the smoked malts in this one. Their presence is not massive though. The beer is a bit sweet too, along with wood and whiskey tones.

M - Medium to soft carbonation with a bitter finish.

O - Not my favorite, actually I find it pretty bad. They say you have to get used to this taste, but I didn't stop smoking for nothing.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2012 20:15:09 | More by Mar02x

ummswimmin

New Jersey

2.88/5  rDev -22.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

I picked this up a while ago and aged it in my cellar for about a year now. I like Rauchbiers, especially Aecht Schlerneka, and I thought this would hit the spot.

It pours dark as midnight, but it looked a little thin. I got almost no head; as expected due to the cellaring.

The smell is very strong with smoke and whiskey. Maybe a little tobacco in the background.

The flavor is not nearly as pleasant as the bouquet. There is a huge imbalance in flavors. I get a ton of smoke in the front. It overwhelms the rest of the beer. In the background there is a wincing amount of whiskey. It less of a beer and more of a dose of multiple flavors with no balance.

I like the brand's spirit, especially because they challenge the status quo in the UK. However, this beer really missed the mark for smoke beers.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2012 18:23:40 | More by ummswimmin

kojevergas

California

2.58/5  rDev -30.6%
look: 2 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2

11.2 fl oz brown glass bottle with standard pressure cap served into a Guinness goblet in low altitude Los Angeles, California. Cost was $11.99. Bottled on date: 04/15/2009. Batch 015, 10% ABV. Expectations are average; my love for the style is balanced by my disdain for Brewdog. The bottle was purchased from a reputable store in Orange County, California, and I'm certain it was stored properly.

Presentation Note: The pressure cap was a real beast to pry off; this assures me it didn't lose carbonation over the course of its near three years in the bottle.

A: Pours a quarter finger head of light cream, decent thickness, and awful retention (~14 seconds). Colour appears black at first, but upon closer inspection seems to be a very dark caramel-black. The high ABV helps explain the bad head, but I've seen it overcome before.

Sm: A downright strong aroma: heavy peat, bourbon/whisky notes, and heavy smoke. Complex, warm, and inviting. Rich and delightful.

T: Heavy on the peat, with a smokey finish. The body is rich but relaxed, and not too heavy on the palate. It doesn't beat you over the head. The whiskey is present as a tone throughout but is never horribly strong. All in all it's rather simple for an imperial stout, and structurally it feels very brief: the flavours are only present for a very small amount of time. I like what's there, but it needs to be stronger and feature more presence. It's imbalanced in this regard.

Mf: Extremely thin and fragile - to its detriment. Even a bit watery. It should be a heavy dry coarse beer, but it's smooth and wet. Awfully executed for an imperial stout. Nearly ruins the beer. What a shame.

Dr: Drinkable but boring and disappointing, largely on account of its brief flavour profile and terrible mouthfeel. Extremely overpriced. I don't know that the aging did it much good. I'd never have this again, even at a quarter of the price I paid for it. Another unsurprising overpriced disappointment from the gimmicky brewers over at Brewdog.

C-

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2012 01:58:28 | More by kojevergas

jdhilt

New Hampshire

3.6/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Straight up pour, no head, no lace. Midnight black color, no highlights. Light carbonation and medium bodied. Wicked smokey nose and flavor is smokey, burnt dark chocolate. High ABV is hidden. Bottled 8/8/2008, flavor is good but carbonation is nearly gone. $9.50 for a 330ml bottle from Tully's Beer & Wine Wells, Me.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2012 23:28:32 | More by jdhilt

inlimbo77

Delaware

4.03/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

11.2oz (but looked like a normal 12oz) bottle poured into an unmarked goblet glass. Final beer from the Beer & Grilled Cheese dinner. Served with flourless chocolate cake and whipped topping. Best Before Date: 19/8/16

A: Pours extremely pitch black. It's not as thick and vicous as I thought I'd be. An aggressive swirl prompts a fluffy tan head with tight bubbles. And lots of fragments of lacing on the glass.

S: Very smokey and peat heavy for sure. Really dominates other dark roast malt notes you would have gotten. Smokey like a camp fire or a BBQ like people have described. Maybe you get some deep dark chocolate behind all that, but you have to really get in there.

T: Lots of bitterness: dark expresso and dark chocolate and smoke. But definitely peat heavy. It's a campfire like smoke. The finish is long with smokey asters. Served very cold, so that might be holding back some of the other flavors a touch.

M: This is certainly a full bodied stout. Coats the mouth with bitterness.

O: First Brewdog beer, and it's for sure extreme like I hear many of their beers are. It's a solid offering. I don't think it's as good as others do, but it's a solid B+ or A- on my scale. I might have a higher grade with proper serving temps. It did pair nicely with the chocolate cake though!

O: B+ not my favorite but it's interesting

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2012 14:56:42 | More by inlimbo77

pjs234

Connecticut

4.28/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

11.2 oz bottle poured into my Stone RIS glass. It poured a very dark brown, almost black with a good amount of tan colored head that grew to about 2-3 fingers high. The smell is very interesting. It's very smokey. At first, smoke was all I could pick up. In fact, my first thoughts was that it smelled like the ashes at the bottom of a camp fire. As I smelled it more, I started to pick up smells of cooked/smoked meat. The first taste caught me off guard. At first I hated it. Tasted like an ashtray. I was concerned that I would not be able to get through it. Thankfully, the second sip was significantly better. Now I am getting flavors of dark chocolate, cooked meets, and barbecue sauce, and all of these are complimented very nicely by the overall smoky character of this beer. The mouth feel is nice too. There is a fair amount of carbonation, but not too much.

Overall, this is a very interesting beer. It's probably not for everyone, but there are many (me included) who will really enjoy this.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2012 03:50:50 | More by pjs234

BeerHunter76

Texas

3.88/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

I am a big fan of BrewDog and what they do, and I have had a few other Paradox. However, this one struck me with its outright boldness. I poured it from a bottle into a snifter. When I brought it to my nose to say that I was suprised about how smoky it is would be an understatement. Pair that with how it hits the pallet and the overwehlming flavor of peat moss and you have a sense of what you get of what it is like to sip a scotch from Islay. VERY earthy and peaty. It has a strong finish, but you don't get much of the 10% because of the smokiness. It is certainly made for sipping from a good snifter. Take your time with this one and enjoy.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2012 23:51:56 | More by BeerHunter76

LeoPanna

New York

4.15/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

11.2oz bottle picked up @ Joe Canal's in Woodbridge NJ. Batch 015 and Best Before 19-08-16 marked on the bottle. I'm a little nervous about this one, i've never tried anything aged in a whiskey cask, not sure what to expect.

A: Beautiful *gulp gulp* sound as the liquid pours into the tulip. light brown before it hits the glass, pitch black as it fills up. Massive head, frothy like a root beer flaot... I love how it looks, just watching the head slowly dissipate.

S: Right out the bottle it smells like backyard bbq. It is just outright smoky. Wish I had more words for this one. Definitely feeling the wood and almost a coal smell as well... It's intense but interesting, not sure what to expect.

T:Whoa...Intense smoke flavor. Now I can taste the whiskey barrel. Burnt coal, beef brisket, smoked bbq sauce and whiskey with a stout texture and color. The aftertaste is the highlight. It's HUGE.. like taking a bite out of a slightly burnt bbq pork chop.

MF: Smooth on the tongue, slight carbonation but it disappears completely as soon as it slides down the tongue. Exactly what I expect in an imperial stout.

O: This is one hell of an adventurous beer. If you expect a typical Imperial Stout, you're gonna be disappointed. But if you remember that it's an intensly smoked stout aged in an Islay whiskey cask, you'll appreciate drinking this. I could definitely see myself trying this again with some Spicy BBQ meat. The only problem is it's too hard to finish! It's an interesting taste but not really a sipping beer, more of something to try a couple sips...The flavor is just too intense!

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2011 23:33:42 | More by LeoPanna

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

4.08/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Frisco's is pretty good about identifying specific beers on their menu, and their beer menu did not identify this as the speyside version. So I'll assume this is what I ordered, even though the data base shows it to be retired.

The beer pours a blackish brown color with fair head retention and minimal lacing. On the nose, the smoke and peat aroma is just incredible. The beer smells as if it has spent a CONSIDERABLE amount of time in some Islay scotch barrel. I don't think I've ever smell anything like this that didn't have the word Laphroig or Lagavullin on the outside label. There's also some light coffee and milk chocoalte, but the single malt scotch aroma really dominates! On the palate... hmmm.... OK, I like this beer, but I can see where it might not appeal to everyone. There is plety of scotch flavor and smoke, as well as chocolate and light coffee. However, the beer also comes across as slight oxidized, and this sort of reminds me of a beer that perhaps has been open a bit too long (even for cask, this beer tastes pretty flat). However, there are no off flavors, and there's no drop off in the finish, so maybe this is what the brewer was going for. Mouthfee is fairly smooth with a fairly long finish, and I found myself enjoying this bere more and more as I went a long. Alcohol is very well integrated into the flavor profile, though you can tell it's up there a bit.

Again, I can see where this may not be to everyone's taste, but I feel as if I have to give the brewer credit for pushing the envelope in this unusual beer. Definitely a beer for lovers of smokey, single malt scotch (and that would certainly be me).

Serving type: cask

11-20-2011 22:39:53 | More by johnmichaelsen

depechemode1983

Texas

3.53/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A - Pours pitch black in color with just some soap like head that vanishes like soda pop. No lacing at all.

S - Beef jerky, leather, hospital, smoke, scotch, wood and alcohol all seem to just jump out at once. Pretty damn impressive. When it comes down to it this beer mainly smells like smoke flavor concentrate. This would be a good beer to cook with.

T - Yup. A good cooking beer. Definitely getting scotch in the taste with tons of smoke. Getting too many medicinal properties. All in all its very smoky and alcoholic. A sipper.

M - The body and mouthfeel are pretty light considering. Carbonation seems to be low. Watery.

O - This is a weird one. An awesome experience. I would never think about dropping 12 dollars on this again. Gald I got to try it.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2011 02:47:50 | More by depechemode1983

BeerFan95

New York

2.42/5  rDev -34.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

A: A thin black body that had a brown head that had very little retention. Seemed to be as thin as water.

S: Had some favorable smoke and peat notes, some of the alcohol notes seemed to over power it. I did not get a sense of roasted malts

T: Good smoke notes, peat notes were mild. Mostly alcohol and that seemed to over power the beer. Roast notes were present but very mild.

M: Very little carbonation, which I expected. Body was very thin and lacking any character.

O: While the smoke and peat notes were great the alcohol really ruined some of the notes I expect from a stout. I usually don't mind alcohol flavor in my beer, but this had more of a generic alcohol flavor. As a note I have never had any Islay single malt scotch.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2011 15:00:19 | More by BeerFan95